Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara hated how Aaron made her feel-there was something cold and angry about him now, his eyes filled with a bitterness aimed squarely at Dylan.

She clutched the bouquet, trying to brush past and head for her car.

Aaron didn't move. "So, you really don't care? Or are you just so dazzled by Dylan that your boyfriend's death doesn't matter to you anymore?"

Clara froze, her grip tightening on the flowers. She despised how people like Aaron kept tossing Z's death in her face, like it was just some piece of gossip.

Aaron leaned closer, his voice light but edged with something sharp, like he was about to tear open an old wound.

"That explosion outside the city? It wasn't Dylan. It was Richard."

Clara couldn't help it-she actually laughed. The whole thing was just absurd.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Aaron said. "Richard's been pushing you and Dylan together from the start. Now your boyfriend's dead, and suddenly you and Dylan are closer than ever. Dylan let it happen. You think those two are heroes? One stood by, the other did the dirty work. Even if Dylan didn't kill your boyfriend outright, he's the reason he's dead. And now you're falling for Dylan, right into his trap. If I were your boyfriend, I'd be clawing my way out of the grave just to yell at you."

Clara's face went cold, but Aaron wouldn't let up.

"Oh, and by the way-I met your boyfriend once. He told me he always felt not good enough for you, but he liked you so much he never wanted you to see his face. Careful, desperate, totally in love. Who would've guessed he'd die somewhere no one could ever find him? It's sad, really."

thudded painfully. No one was supposed to know she'd never seen Z's face-not unless Aaron really

She stayed silent.

off the grid for a while, digging into everything. This was

guy whose face

tried to pick apart

only fall

even if he was spinning stories,

hard, his body shaking,

for that. He killed my brother, and now he's making sure die slow. But I'm not

Diter

sooner or later."

finally escaped, getting into her car, her mind a

to Palm Bay, walked into the mansion's bright foyer, and realized

a maid. "Where is

called and asked him to pick up

temple, but he

into the

Dylan sitting alone on